sheriff

[ sher-if ]
/ ˈʃɛr ɪf /

noun

the law-enforcement officer of a county or other civil subdivision of a state.
(formerly) an important civil officer in an English shire.

Origin of sheriff

before 1050; Middle English sher(r)ef, Old English scīrgerēfa. See shire, reeve1

OTHER WORDS FROM sheriff

sher·iff·dom [sher-if-duh m] /ˈʃɛr ɪf dəm/, noun sub·sher·iff, noun

Example sentences from the Web for sheriff

British Dictionary definitions for sheriff

sheriff
/ (ˈʃɛrɪf) /

noun

(in the US) the chief law-enforcement officer in a county: popularly elected, except in Rhode Island
(in England and Wales) the chief executive officer of the Crown in a county, having chiefly ceremonial duties Related adjective: shrieval
(in Scotland) a judge in any of the sheriff courts
(in Australia) an administrative officer of the Supreme Court, who enforces judgments and the execution of writs, empanels juries, etc
(in New Zealand) an officer of the High Court

Derived forms of sheriff

sheriffdom, noun

Word Origin for sheriff

Old English scīrgerēfa, from scīr shire 1 + gerēfa reeve 1